Msgr. Thomas Hildreth Sharkey, 91, a priest of the Diocese of Camden for almost 60 years, died Sept. 10.
Msgr. Sharkey was pastor of four parishes: Holy Name, Camden (1961-65); St. Joan of Arc, Camden (1965-68); St. Teresa, Runnemede (1968-84); and Our Lady of Good Counsel, Ocean City (1984-98).
Born on Oct. 4, 1922 in New York, he attended St. Charles College in Catonsville, Md., and St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, before being ordained by Bishop Bartholomew J. Eustace in Camden on May 22, 1948.
His first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Teresa, Runnemede, from 1948-51. He was also parochial vicar at Holy Name (1951-54), and parochial vicar in-residence at Sacred Heart, Camden from 1955-57.
From 1957-61, he was administrator at St. George Parish in Camden.
In addition to his work in the parishes, Msgr. Sharkey served as vice chancellor (1955); chancellor (1960); and many years in the Office of the Tribunal.
Father Patrick Brady recalled a “holy man and model priest” who was “extraordinarily faithful to his priestly ministry.”
Fifty years ago, when Father Brady first came to the United States from Ireland to serve in the Diocese of Camden, the first person who welcomed him was Msgr. Sharkey, then the chancellor of the Diocese.
After retiring in 1998, Msgr. Sharkey continued to minister to the faithful, primarily at parishes in Ocean City and Northfield, including St. Gianna Beretta Molla, where Father Brady was pastor.
During his time as pastor at St. Gianna Beretta Molla in Northfield, Father Brady remembers a “gentle, humorous, relaxed” man, who had “great affection for St. Gianna parishioners; they, in turn, had great affection for him.”
Father Brady recently retired as pastor of St. Gianna Beretta Molla but he remembered Msgr. Sharkey “came with fidelity to the church every Saturday afternoon to meet with the line of penitents who regularly sought him out for the wise and compassionate counsel that he offered in the sacrament of penance.”
Msgr. Sharkey continued this practice even after the retirement of Fr. Brady, until mid-July.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Msgr. Sharkey was celebrated Sept. 16 at St. Gianna Beretta Molla Church. Interment followed at Calvary Cemetery in Cherry Hill.
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